My Love Has Returned After Fifty Years. Poem by Sahil Sharifdin Bhat

Five decades have rolled by
Since we were teenagers;
Since we were true lovers;
Since she left me to cry and die.
My village was a virgin's face
And she the dimple of that face.
She was dearer to me than all:
Farms, orchards, alleys, waterfall...
Of all delicacies at her home,
She would put my share aside.
Then she would call me outside,
By throwing a pebble at my window.
(I had taken a street facing room,
For our romantic communication.
Its windows were like church bells,
Which she used to ring with pebbles.)
Seeing me exiting from the main gate,
She would come near me smiling,
Handing me my share of delicacy
Then flying away like gentle fairy.
Whenever she had to go anywhere:
The market, the hillside or the riverside.
She would directly come to my room
To persuade me with her sweet words
To accompany her here and there.
''Why could she not go all alone? ''
I asked her once and she replied,
'' I fear going all alone, my dear.
When you are with me, I don't fear. ''
Wow! Those were my happiest days!
Oh! Those days I miss badly always!
She was pretty, lovely and young:
With rosy lips, a button nose,
Two long braided locks hanging over ears,
Big bright brown eyes, thick eyelashes,
With swinging light golden earrings,
And two growing blossoms below her chin.
Ah! I would gaze her on and on!
Alas! Sorrow invaded my village of joys,
Burnt my smiles and killed my peace.
My lovely village was left smoking
And my love was never to be seen.
I wiped tears and began to relive:
Married, had kids and grew old.


But, I received a message lately,
Which made me both happy and sad ,
My lips smiled, my eyes shed tears,
My love has returned after fifty years.
She wants to meet me somewhere
And feed me my share of delicacies.
She has a husband, kids and grandkids
But, she has been living fearfully.
She has been missing me badly.
She wants to meet me soon.
My heart is running like a mad horse.
I am restless to meet my love too.
I will ask her where had she gone?
I will ask her how had she lived on?
Why had she not told me about going?
Where did she live? Whom she married?
Why did she break my mirror of dreams?
Why did she leave me half-slain?
I will ask her about all her joys.
I will also tell her about my pain.


Wait, wait, why should I go there now?
She is some oldy, not my love.
Let that young face be in my eyes.
Let me not create now fresh ties.
My old sorrows are dearer to me
Than the new joys of two or three days.
As the fish lives happily in water,
So I live in pain and sorrows always.
If I go to meet that Joy, I swear,
I will definitely die then and there.
Calm down my heart, do not roar
And let me live a few days more.